Tobyn is 5!

Tobyn is finally 5! He was so excited for his birthday. He loved "helping" me with the cake. It was Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes. The Hessings came over to help us eat them all and sing happy birthday. I think my guy had a good birthday.

Cup Cakes...

Waiting patiently for his cake and singing happy birthday.

Tobyn opening his Fire Truck. He LOVES it! He also got clothes, money, a chalk board and a few other exciting things.

(Sorry, I don't know how to rotate the picture)

Tobyn is the one in the family to give you a big smile before he says anything else. He is awesome at ridding his bike and scooter. He is a lot of fun and we are so happy to have him a part of our family! We love you Tobyn!

Tobyn's School!

That's right, Tobyn started school! He was SO excited. He loves it so far. His teachers seem really awesome and good with the kids. Tobyn comes home worn out everyday, but I don't mind. It has given him something fun to do. It's a little strange only having one home in the mornings, but I am glad he is doing something he enjoys.

Happy Birthday TC!

TC had his birthday on the 8th! We can hardly believe our little boy is 11! He has grown so much and we can start to see the preteen-ness come into play. Yes, boys go through it too. He sits at the computer doing homework with his music playing, and sometimes he goes out to play and other days he hangs out.

Again, it was a quiet birthday. He got an awesome jacket, a tech-deck, and a new seepa (not sure on spelling, but it's a hackie-sack) Anyway, he seemed to love it all. The awesome Hi-def pictures show how excited he is!

On the Saturday after his bday we had a big family picture and then went over to Grandma C's to have pizza (Yay!) and cake and ice cream (double Yay!) He got a football, another jacket, some clothes and a sword. I think he had an awesome time there too.
We are so glad to have TC in our family. He for sure is the older brother by teasing, ordering and bossing, but he also has the great qualities of protecting, loving, watching, and example of being the oldest. We love you TC!!

Quick Update

This will be a quick update since I need to leave to get Todd from the airport in 15 min.

Today Todd had an interview with American Eagle. This is the job we REALLY want and are praying our wants and needs might meet on this one. The main base is in Dallas, where we REALLY want to be. We have several friends and a few relatives down in that area so it would be a nice place to live and establish some roots for our family.

The last I heard from him is that he got a letter of pre-employment, which means he has passed the interview thus far. Now the waiting game begins. He will have to wait to find out if he passes the background check...not too nervous about this one...and make it through the cut of the final hiring board....this is the part we are slightly nervous about, he made it this far with Colgan and got the denial letter 2 weeks later. But honestly we weren't all that surprised. Anyway...back to American Eagle. It can take up to a month for the process to finish. So hopefully I have fingers left by then and have not completely chewed them to bits with anticipation.

This was a quick update, and I am not sure if I got all the facts right. I will let Todd do more of a complete update and post his feelings on the whole things...so stay tuned.

Hiking

The boys and I have been talking all sumer about hiking up to Timp. On monday we finally made it up there. We got up at 5:30 to get up there. That wasn't early enough to beat the holiday crowd. My plan was to hike the Timpanokee trail up to the glacier, and do the top another day. We had to park about a mile from where the trail head started, because of all the people.

This is from the rim of the bowl looking down toward AF canyon, which is how far we made it.

We got started from the car about 7:30 and got to this spot in the bowl to eat lunch about 11:45. It was about 7 miles to this point.

Our view of Timp while we ate lunch. The far right side of the pic is the saddle that leads to the top. On the far left is where we would have to go for the glacier. I had only been up there one other time and didn't realize that this was a longer trail to where I wanted to go.

Crossing the "wiva." One of four times. (Tobyn)

This is when we first started, while thier still happy and don't know any better.

Titus was the pack leader, blazing the trail ahead of every one. TC was a pack-mule, carrying almost as much weight in his pack as me. Tate was the middle man making sure everyone was staying together. Tobyn was the mountain-mover, having to pick up every rock he passed.

We all had fun spending the day together. The boys were dead by the time we got done. On the way back we took a short-cut on a steep trail. TC and Titus made it down first and were waiting on the main trial, while I was helping the other two. Tobyn let go of my hand while I turned around to help Tate and started down the path. He was building speed fast, his legs had never moved so quick. There was no way he was going to stop before he ran off the other side of the main trail and down the rim of the bowl. I yelled to TC and Titus to catch him and they jumped into position just as Tobyn jumped down on his butt and stopped himself. He got up and ran back up to me crying that he almost ran off the mountain.

We didn't take anymore short cuts after that. Going at a 4 and 15/16 year old pace is not good for muscles that aren't used in baby steps. We vowed that next year we will come back and make it up to the top. Mom didn't come this time, she was having a fun time finishing her table.

Table!

In the beginning. Pre-sand (or just starting the sanding) It was pretty ugly. It had vinyl stuff that is supposed to look like finished wood. No one could understand why I didn't want to strip it and re-stain it, but that's not the look I am going for and for $50 I figure it's a good project.

The in-between stage. After sanding, before painting. This part took a lot of work! Found out the hard way that good 'ol hand sanding works the best.

It's done at last! I am so happy!

If you look at the top you can see the brush strokes. I tried really hard to have no lines, but without a sprayer it's just not possible. I also distrested it a little, but you can't see it on these amazing pictures. My mom and Grandpa had a hard time understanding why I spent so much time sanding and painting, just to sand it and make it look old. When you put it that way.....oh-well. I like it. I am SO excited to have it done!

Costs- $50 for the table and $75 for supplies to finish it. Total $125. Can't beat that! The next big project will be to add seating.

TC's Arrow of Light

TC recieved his Arrow of Light, which is the highest cub scout award. He worked hard this past year to earn it! We are proud of him. Way to go TC!

Crossing the bridge from Cub to Boy scout.

Getting the Boy Scout neckerchief.

I still have a hard time believing he is old enough for all this stuff. Time goes by way to fast!